Back in 1977 the British press had great fun with a story concerning Joyce McKinney. A former Miss Wyoming, Miss McKinney pursued her boyfriend to the UK, kidnapped him, and proceeded to try to de-programme him for the Mormon Church by way of chaining him to a bed and inflicting a week of sex on him. He turned out to take exception to this, and Miss McKinney went to court.
This film revisits the story, principally by way of giving over centre stage to Miss McKinney to tell her story, interposed with contributions from other participants (though not the victim, who declined to participate), contemporary clips and images etc. Miss McKinney is an engaging and intelligent speaker, though effusive to the point of verbal incontinence. She gives every impression of believing every word of her incredible narrative.
I found her story much more difficult to credit, however, and when I use the word "incredible" I use it in its literal sense - "not believable." Every viewer is, of course, going to form their own conclusion, but I am inclined towards the newspaper man who regards her as barking mad - at the very least, she seems unable to recognise the contradictions inherent in her own story.
This unusual documentary is entertaining though somewhat worrying, and with an underlying sadness to it.
This film revisits the story, principally by way of giving over centre stage to Miss McKinney to tell her story, interposed with contributions from other participants (though not the victim, who declined to participate), contemporary clips and images etc. Miss McKinney is an engaging and intelligent speaker, though effusive to the point of verbal incontinence. She gives every impression of believing every word of her incredible narrative.
I found her story much more difficult to credit, however, and when I use the word "incredible" I use it in its literal sense - "not believable." Every viewer is, of course, going to form their own conclusion, but I am inclined towards the newspaper man who regards her as barking mad - at the very least, she seems unable to recognise the contradictions inherent in her own story.
This unusual documentary is entertaining though somewhat worrying, and with an underlying sadness to it.